The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has faulted the state government over the hike in the fees payable by students in the Ondo State Government-owned University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UNIMED).
This was contained in a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, who described the new school fees introduced by the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu as anti-people’s policies and height of insensitivity by the state governor.
Peretei said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government had failed to consider the economic hardship faced by Nigerians, especially civil servants in the state but issued out a silent notice to parents who cannot afford the new fees regime to withdraw their children.
The statement read: “ The recent astronomical hike in the fees payable by students in the Ondo State Government owned University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UNIMED) by the government is a silent notice to parents who cannot afford the new fees regime to withdraw their children.
“Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, has never hidden his penchant for increasing fees in tertiary institutions since he assumed leadership of the State. Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko and Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa had suffered serial closures over students protests bordering on fees hike.
“The Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo shrank to a student population of 1,753 from over 9,000 due to fees increase. Most private residential accommodation for students in Owo are now empty. Even the economy of the ancient city has been adversely affected.
“Parents and students of UNIMED received shockers of their lives when they noticed increment of fees with nearly 120 percent for 2021/2022 session.
” No explanation was given for this hike. Medical students have to pay as much as N1,320,000.00 as against N515,000.00 payable in the previous academic session (2020/2021)”
Comparing the neighbouring state, the PDP said “At Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti students of Medicine and Surgery require only N468,750.00 for 2021/2022 Session. For Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye N176,396.00 will be enough for the same course.
“There is no justification for this continuous upward review of school fees when the economy of the state is practically comatose and workers’ salaries are not only irregular but never paid in full.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State Chapter calls on the Governor and the APC led government to wear a human face in taking decisions that affect the well being of our future leaders.
“A government that only brings sorrow to the people through policies of this nature is no longer worthy of its stay in power.
“If neighbouring States with lesser revenue are charging lesser fees, why must Ondo State breed University dropouts because of the wickedness of one man?
“Education is the only industry Ondo State is known for. If the incumbent administration cannot improve our lots, it is better not to complicate a bad situation”
Meanwhile, parents and students of the institution who have been lamenting over the hike in tuition fees, queried the sudden increase in the school fees while some parents said they may withdraw their children from the school.
According to a new schedule released by the school management, the fees to be paid by non-indigenous students are 59 percent higher than what indigenous students will pay.
Non-indigenous students studying medicine in the pre-clinical year are to pay N2.245million per session while indigenous students are to pay N1.320million per session.
Indigenous students studying courses like Biochemistry and Physiology are to pay N350,000 per session, while non-indigenous students are to pay N400,000.
Those studying Dentistry in the preclinical years would pay N2.245million for non-indigenous students and N1.320million for their indigenous counterparts.
A parent while lamenting over the new fees said: “There will be mass withdrawal. It is not realistic. Mass withdrawal is looming in the school. We were paying N350,000 and it was difficult.
“We know medicine is not cheap but this is on the high side. Other state schools are running medicine but their fees are not as high as N2million.”
While speaking on the development, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, said there was no going back on the new fee schedule but explained that the new fee was for new students to be admitted for the new academic session.
He said the institution’s commitment to offering quality education would not be compromised and said “parents have an option. It is not compulsory for their children to study here. Other medical schools are available.
“We run this school almost free of tuition fees. This school is a specialised school and we cannot continue with the previous fees.”
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